U.S. patent application number 11/710871 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for valve arrangement for a gas installation.
This patent application is currently assigned to ISPHORDING Germany GmbH. Invention is credited to Norbert Gartner, Jurgen Koch, Robert Zink.
Application Number | 20070215225 11/710871 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37945796 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070215225 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koch; Jurgen ; et
al. |
September 20, 2007 |
Valve arrangement for a gas installation
Abstract
The invention relates to a valve arrangement for a gas
installation comprising a valve body with at least one gas inlet,
whereby at least one gas outlet is assigned to a gas inlet and,
more particularly whereby one gas outlet can be closed by means of
a medium-controlled or flame-controlled safety valve element,
whereby one gas outlet be reduced in cross-section and/or closed by
means of a valve element arranged on a non-rotating shaft, whereby
the actuator (6) of the valve element (10) is in the form of a
linear motor (6) on the shaft of which the valve element (10) is
directly arranged. The invention also relates to a joint valve body
for multiple adjacent identical valve arrangements in which the gas
inlets (3) of all valve arrangements are connected to a joint gas
pipeline (3) more particularly extending in the longitudinal
direction of the entire valve body (1), whereby perpendicularly to
the axis of the joint gas supply pipeline (3) bored holes (B1-B5)
are arranged, which at least from holders for safety valve
arrangements (2) and actuators (6) as well as gas outlets (5), more
particularly also for forming a by-pass pipeline (18), in which,
more particularly, a gas nozzle (19) can be used.
Inventors: |
Koch; Jurgen; (Attendorn,
DE) ; Zink; Robert; (Hagen, DE) ; Gartner;
Norbert; (Frankfurt/Main, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
K.F. ROSS P.C.
5683 RIVERDALE AVENUE
SUITE 203 BOX 900
BRONX
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Assignee: |
ISPHORDING Germany GmbH
|
Family ID: |
37945796 |
Appl. No.: |
11/710871 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/883 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/87877 20150401;
F23N 2235/14 20200101; F23N 5/105 20130101; F23N 2235/16 20200101;
F16K 17/38 20130101; F23N 2235/24 20200101; F16K 31/04 20130101;
F23N 1/005 20130101; F16K 1/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/883 |
International
Class: |
F16K 11/22 20060101
F16K011/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 27, 2006 |
DE |
102006009496.4 |
Claims
1. A valve arrangement for a gas installation comprising a valve
body with at least one gas inlet, whereby at least one gas outlet
is assigned to a gas inlet and, more particularly whereby one gas
outlet can be closed by means of a medium-controlled or
flame-controlled safety valve element, whereby one gas outlet can
be reduced in cross-section and/or closed by means of a valve
element arranged on a non-rotating shaft, characterized in that the
actuator (6) of the valve element (10) is in the form of a linear
motor (6), on the shaft (8) of which the valve element (10) is
directly arranged.
2. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that the linear motor (6) is gas tight.
3. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, is
characterized in that on the shaft (8) of the linear motor (6) a
sealing element (20) is arranged, which, more particularly, can
incorporate two O-rings (22, 23).
4. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that the shaft (8) of the actuator (6) slides in a form-fitting
sleeve (9) and, mote particularly, has a cross-section deviating
from the round form, more particularly a star-shaped cross section,
with the sleeve, more particularly, being made of Teflon.
5. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that the valve element (10) is conical.
6. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that the linear motor (8) is in the form of a step motor.
7. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that the volumetric flow of the gas can be linearly altered in
dependence on the step of the linear motor (6).
8. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that the valve element (10) is arranged on the shaft (8) in a
moveable manner, with a force, more particularly a spring force
exerted on it, whereby after the valve element (10) comes to rest
on its valve seat (11) the shaft (8) can be pushed through the
valve element (10) in order to lift the safety valve element (17)
from its valve seat.
9. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1 characterized
in that the valve element (10) in attached to the forward end of
the shaft (8) in an unmovable manner.
10. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that the valve element has at least one by-pass drilled
hole.
11. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that the safety valve arrangement is adjustable in its open
position.
12. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1 characterized
in that it is arranged in multiples in a joint valve body (1).
13. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 12,
characterized in that the gas inlets (3) of all valve arrangement
are connected to a joint gas supply pipe, more particularly
extending in the longitudinal direction of the joint valve
body.
14. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that the valve body (1), more particularly the joint valve body
(1) of several valve arrangements is formed as an extruded profile,
more particularly whereby the gas supply pipe (3) is integrated
into the joint valve body (1) during the extrusion process.
15. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that perpendicular to the axis of a gas supply pipeline (3)
there are bored holes (B1-B5) which at least form holders for a
safety valve arrangement (2) and an actuator (6) as well as a gas
outlet (5), more particularly also for forming a by-pass pipeline
(18) in which a gas nozzle (19) can be used.
16. The valve arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized
in that a bored hole (B3) for a gas outlet (5) is arranged above a
bored hole (B2) for an actuator (6), whereby, more particularly,
the bored holes (B2, B3) are arranged at an angle of 0 to 45
degrees.
17. A joint valve body for multiple adjacent identical valve
arrangements, more particularly in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the gas inlets (3) of all valve arrangements
are connected to a joint gas supply pipeline (3) more particularly
extending in the longitudinal direction of the valve body (1),
whereby, more particularly, perpendicular to the axis of the joint
gas supply pipe (3), bored holes (B1-B5) are arranged which at
least form holders for safety valve arrangements (2) and actuators
(6) as well as gas outlets (5), more particularly also for forming
a by-pass pipeline (18) in-which, more particularly, a gas nozzle
(19) can be used.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a valve arrangement for a gas
installation comprising a valve body with at least one gas inlet,
whereby at least one gas outlet is assigned to a gas inlet and
whereby one gas outlet can be reduced in cross-section and/or
closed by means of a valve element arranged on a non-rotating
shaft.
[0002] Such a valve arrangement can also comprise a safety device
which has a safety valve element with which a gas inlet can be
media-controlled and/or flame-controlled. Such a safety device is
usually designed as a passive, i.e. not self-attracting magnetic
valve, which is held open by the current of a thermoelement
arranged in or near a flame. If the flame is extinguished the
magnetic valve automatically closes off further gas supply due to
lack of the required holding current.
[0003] A valve arrangement of this type is disclosed, for example,
in EP 0 875 720. A drawback of this embodiment is the fact that the
actuator is designed as a conventional electric motor with a
rotating shaft, the rotation of which is converted by way of
gearing and/or a clutch provided between the electric motor and the
valve body, into a straight-line movement of a second shaft on
which a simple flat valve disk is arranged.
[0004] The gearing and/or clutch is created in that the second
shaft, bearing the valve plate, is connected to a nut which is
borne on a rotating shaft, which in turn is connected to the
rotating shaft of the actuator. This produces a structurally
complex valve arranged with considerable sealing problems between
the valve body and the clutch/gearing on the one hand and between
the clutch/gearing and motor on the other hand.
[0005] Furthermore, the known valve arrangement is not suitable for
fine regulation of the gas flow between a gas inlet and a gas
outlet.
[0006] The aim of the invention is to create a valve arrangement of
the type set out in the introduction, more particularly one with a
safety valve, which is simple in design, has no sealing problems
and, in particular, also provides fine regulation of the gas
flow.
[0007] This objective is achieved in accordance with the invention
in that the actuator of the valve element is designed as a linear
motor, on the shaft of which the valve element is directly
arranged.
[0008] By using a linear motor as the actuator in such a valve
arrangement there is no necessity to convert a rotational movement
of a shaft into an straight-line movement as the linear motor
already provides a straight-line movement of its shaft relative to
the casing of the linear motor. The known clutch/gear arrangement
can thus be fully dispensed with, as a result of which there are
fewer sealing problems and/or tightness can be achieved with
simpler measures.
[0009] For example, the linear motor can be attached directly on/in
the valve body so that essentially only this transition area has to
be sealed, e.g. by way of an O-ring seal.
[0010] The design is also considerably simplified in that the valve
element, which acts in conjunction with a valve seat in order to
alter/close the cross-section of a gas channel to the gas outlet,
can be arranged directly on the shaft of the linear motor without
the intermediate arrangement of a clutch or gearing.
[0011] There are no further sealing measures, particularly if in a
preferred embodiment the linear motor is designed to be gas-tight.
Due to this then given inherent tightness any sealing measures are
limited to the above-described measures between the motor and valve
body.
[0012] Highly satisfactory or absolute tightness can, for example,
be achieved in an advantageous embodiment if the shaft is guided in
a gas-tight manner in a form-fitting sleeve of the linear motor,
more particularly whereby the shaft of the linear motor has a cross
section deviating from the round form, and is, more particularly,
star-shaped. Through this cross-section particular rotation
inhibition is achieved as well as a greater sliding surface.
[0013] The high degree of tightness can be achieved in that such a
sleeve is longer than conventional O-rings. For example, it can be
located in the stroke length of such a linear motor. Preferably a
sleeve can be made of Teflon which has excellent sliding properties
and also has sealing properties during compression.
[0014] A linear motor of this type thus acts as an actuator and at
the same time also as a sealing stopper in order to close the
drilled hole provided to accommodate it.
[0015] It is also possible to arrange an additional, more
particularly sleeve-shaped sealing element on a preferably round
shaft of the linear motor, having, for example, two O-rings and
sealing the shaft vis-a-vis the valve body.
[0016] In order to achieve very fine regulation of the valve
arrangement in accordance with the invention, a further embodiment
can envisage that the valve element is conical in shape. In this
case is narrows in its direction of movement to the valve seat, so
that, in particular if, preferably, the linear motor is designed as
step motor, regulation can be achieved by way of a higher control
unit to control the step motor.
[0017] In this way in a preferred embodiment the volumetric flow of
the gas can be linearly altered depending on the step number of the
linear motor, which allows a user to conveniently regulate the gas
flow. If the linearity between the step number and the gas flow is
not already given by the shape adaptation between the valve element
and the valve seat, computer-assisted linearization in a control
unit can be carried out.
[0018] In a first embodiment it can be envisaged that the valve
element is movably arranged on the shaft in a force or
spring-actuated manner in the direction of advance, whereby the
valve element is pushed by the force against a stop located at the
start of the shaft, which, for example, can be a securing ring. In
this way the valve element is carried with the shaft in the
direction of the valve seat until the valve element rests on the
valve element. However, after the valve element is on the valve
seat the shaft can continue to be pushed through the valve
element.
[0019] This can be envisaged, for example, to lift the safety valve
element from its valve seat, thereby opening the gas inlet and
allowing gas to flow through a by-pass opening e.g. to ignite or
maintain a flame, e.g. a pilot or auxiliary flame in
low-performance operation (simmer flame). A by-pass opening of this
type can for example be arranged between the valve seats of the
safety valve element and valve element.
[0020] The safety valve element can, as described above, be kept in
its open position until the flame goes out.
[0021] When the flame is ignited the shaft can be pulled back, e.g.
initially into a position in which only the above-described flame
is lit. If the shaft is retracted further the stop at the start of
the shaft reaches the valve element and this is lifted against the
force, which can, for example, be produced by a spring, from the
valve seat so that gas can flow through the gas outlet in order,
for example, to ignite a main flame or to increase the quantity of
gas for the initially lit flame, particularly if the above by-pass
opens into the gas outlet.
[0022] The-positions the shaft has to occupy for the above settings
can, for example, be stored by the assigned step number in the
higher control unit.
[0023] In a further embodiment the valve element can also be
attached in an unmovable manner to the forward end of the shaft,
e.g. by screwing onto the shaft. In this case the valve element is
always carried with the shaft when it moves and the shaft cannot be
used to lift the valve element from its seat. In this embodiment
the safety valve element can be actively placed in its open
position, i.e. for example by an external power supply or other
measures. For example, it can be part of an active magnetic valve
which does not only keep the open position but can itself lift the
safety valve element from the seat.
[0024] For example, in this way the gas can reach a by-pass which,
as mentioned above, can be between the valve seats or, for example
be designed so that the valve element has at least one by-pass
opening, i.e. it never closes completely. Thus, after lifting the
safety valve element from its seat gas can always flow through the
valve element to the gas outlet.
[0025] A by-pass can also be absent, whereby a pilot and/or
auxiliary and/or low-performance flame can be -produced through the
valve element being raised a predetermined distance from the valve
seat by way of- the linear motor, which is preferably controlled by
a predetermined number of steps, or possibly just one step.
[0026] Usually it is envisaged that, for example, in cooker hobs
several gas burners are used. Each burner should/must have a safety
device that stops the supply of gas if the flame goes out, and each
burner should usually be regulated. Thus several above-described
valve arrangements are can be individually used in such an
application.
[0027] In a particularly preferred embodiment it can be envisaged
that the above valve arrangement is arranged in at least twos in a
joint valve body, e.g. corresponding to the number of gas burners
used on a cooker hob, whereby in the case of a burner with two gas
rings two valve arrangements for one burner can be provided.
[0028] This simplifies the design considerably as only one single
valve body has to be manufactured into which all elements can be
integrated . It can preferably also be envisaged that the gas
inlets of all valve arrangements are connected to a joint gas
supply pipe more particularly extending in the longitudinal
direction of the joint valve body.
[0029] The design of the valve body described below can not only be
selected in the case of multiple adjacent arrangement of
similar/identical valve arrangements, but also if only one valve
arrangement is envisaged in the valve body.
[0030] It is a design advantage if the valve body, more
particularly the joint valve of several valve arrangements is in
the form of an extruded profile, especially whereby the joint gas
supply pipe is integrated into the valve body during the extrusion
process.
[0031] Equally, the gas supply pipe can be subsequently
incorporated into the valve body as a drilled hole. The valve body
can also be produced as a cast component. The preferred material is
aluminum in each case, though other materials can also be used.
[0032] It is also a design advantage if, perpendicularly to the
axis of a, more particularly, joint gas supply pipe for a valve
arrangement, bored holes are provided for each valve arrangement,
which at least form holders for a safety valve arrangement and an
actuator and for a gas outlet, in particular also to form a by-pass
pipe in which a gas nozzle can be used. These bored holes can be
easily incorporated after the manufacture of a blank for the valve
body e.g. CNC-controlled.
[0033] The bored hole for a safety valve element (active or
passive) can be arranged opposite the bored hole for an actuator,
more particularly a linear motor, and run axially thereto, i.e.
both bored holes lie on one axis. Through these bored holes the
valve seats of the above-described valve and safety valve element
can be produced at the same time.
[0034] A bored hole for each gas outlet can be arranged above a
bored hole for an actuator, whereby, more particularly the bored
holes are arranged at an angle of 0 to 45 degrees. A gas outlet
hole can also be provided above a bored hole for a safety valve
element with the same possible angles. Particularly through the
parallelism/small angle between the bored holes a particularly flat
construction of the valve body is achieved both when producing only
one valve arranged as well as several adjacently arranged valve
arrangements.
[0035] The above design of the valve body can not only be used in
conjunction with the described invention of the linear motor and/or
the conical valve element, but fundamentally with all types of
actuators and valve elements, more particularly those not described
here.
[0036] Forms of embodiment of the invention are described
below:
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through an individual valve
arrangement;
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through an individual valve
arrangement with a sealing element arranged on the shaft of the
linear motor;
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a linear motor; and
[0040] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through a valve arrangement
with one or with several identical valve arrangements a joint valve
casing.
[0041] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of an individual valve
arrangement in accordance with the invention. Shown is a valve body
1 integrated into which from two opposite sides is a safety valve
arrangement 2 for opening and closing a gas inlet 3, as well as
valve arrangement 4 for opening, closing and regulating a gas flow
from gas inlet 3 to a gas outlet 5. Both valve arrangements 2 and 4
are arranged co-linearly opposite each other so that the valves
seats are also arranged in parallel to each other.
[0042] The valve arrangement 4 is formed here by a linear motor 6
which via an O-ring 7 is attached in a tight manner to the valve
body 1. The linear motor 6 has a shaft 8, which is axially movable
in a rotation-inhibited manner and slides in a sleeve-shaped
projection 9 of the linear motor. The cross-section of the shaft 8
is star-shaped here. FIG. 3 shows two views of a linear motor as
use here.
[0043] In the embodiment in FIG. 1 a valve element 10 is arranged
at the forward end of the shaft 8, can be moved on the shaft 8,
sealed by an O-ring 15 and is conical in shape. i.e. tapering
towards the valve seat 11. Arranged around the shaft 8 is a
pressure spring 12 which is supported on the one hand by a disk 13
on the linear motor (on the sleeve 9) and on the other hand by a
disk 14 on the valve element 10.
[0044] In this way a force is exerted on the valve element 10 in
the direction of advance (to the valve seat) and it rests on a stop
16 at the start of the shaft.
[0045] If the shaft 8 is now moved forward by the linear motor 6
the valve element 10 stops at its seat and on further movement of
the shaft is pressed by spring pressure against the seat.
[0046] By way of the shaft 8 that can be moved through the valve
element 10, the safety valve element 17 of the safety valve
arrangement 2 can be pressed back so that the gas inlet opens.
[0047] Gas can then flow out from the gas inlet 3 to a by-pass
bored hole 18 and can be ignited as a pilot, auxiliary or simmer
flame. Through the ignited flame a retaining current is produced to
keep the safety valve arrangement 2 in the retracted position. By
moving the shaft back, after the stop 16 has come into contact with
the valve element 10, the valve element is now lifted from its seat
11 and the gas path to the gas outlet 5 is cleared. A main flame
can be ignited or the already lit flame can be supplied with more
gas if the by-pass 18 opens into the gas outlet 5.
[0048] Through the conical/tapered shaped of the valve element 10
very fine regulation of the gas flow results, particularly if the
linear motor is a step motor and is controlled electronically.
[0049] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment essentially as in FIG. 1, but
whereby in this case on the preferred round shaft 8 a sealing
element 20 is arranged, which rests on a step 21 on the shaft 8 and
is thus carried along with a movement of the shaft 8.
[0050] The spring 12 which in. FIG. 1 rests on the casing of the
linear motor 6, here rests on the sealing element 20.
[0051] In this embodiment the sealing element 20 has two sealing
rings, of which sealing ring 22 seals the sealing element vis-a-vis
the shaft 8 and of which sealing ring 23 seals vis-a-vis the bored
hole in which the linear motor with its shaft 8 is inserted. Thus,
the entire area to the right of the sealing element 20 is sealed
against the gas. For this reason the sealing ring 7 described in
FIG. 1 between the linear motor and the valve body 1 can be
omitted.
[0052] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which several identical valve
arrangements are, as described in FIG. 1, arranged consecutively
parallel to the plane of the page in a joint valve body 1.
[0053] This arrangement can also be selected if only one valve
arrangement is required in the valve body, whereby the described
gas supply pipe then only supplies one gas inlet.
[0054] The valve body is, for example, a cast component or an
extruded profile from one block and has one joint gas inlet 3,
produced during manufacturing or subsequently, for all the valve
arrangements, which as a channel-shaped gas supply pipeline runs
through the entire joint valve body 1 perpendicularly to the plane
of the page.
[0055] Perpendicularly thereto and this in the plane of the page
there are bored holes B1 to B5 for each/for one valve arrangement.
The bored hole B1 is for taking up a safety valve arrangement, as
described above. B2 is for a linear motor 6, whereby B1 and B2 are
co-linear. B3 is a bored hole for forming a gas outlet 5 and runs
at a slight angle of approx. 20 degrees to B2. Bored hole B3
intersects a bored hole 4 which forms a by-pass and opens into the
space between the two valve seats of the safety valve arrangement 2
and the valve arrangement. B3 intersects a bored hole B5 in order
to create a connection to bored hole B2 when the valve is open,
i.e. the valve element 10 is lifted from the seat 11. After
producing bored hole B5 it can be closed.
[0056] In bored hole B4 a gas nozzle 19 is used so that gas can
flow from the gas inlet via this nozzle to bored hole B5. The gas
nozzle 19 simultaneously closes bored hole B4 to the outside.
[0057] The front end of the channel for the gas inlet 3 can be
connected to a gas pipeline, e.g. the mains supply or a gas bottle.
The rear open end is subsequently closed if it has been produced at
all during manufacture.
[0058] Apparent here is the very flat construction of the valve
arrangement(s) in accordance with the invention in a, more
particularly, joint valve body, as well as the simply designed
assembly which can be achieved by machining a valve body blank.
* * * * *